Baseball: UL defeats Mississippi State 14-8, sets up rematch

Chad Washington, The Advertiser, June 2, 2012

UL’s Jace Conrad (19) celebrates with teammate Ryan Leonards (7) after hitting a two-run home run against Mississippi State in an NCAA Baseball Division I Tournament game Sunday, May 1, 2014, at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in Lafayette, La.(Photo: Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser)

The bats were hot for the UL baseball team as the Ragin’ Cajuns pounded out 18 hits on its way to a 13-3 win over Mississippi State Sunday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field to stay alive in the NCAA Lafayette Regional.

The Cajuns force a deciding game at 6 p.m. Monday with the winner advancing to the Super Regionals, where it will face either Ole Miss or Washington. Those two teams will play their regional final at 3 p.m. Monday.

"Our fans showed up and gave us a lot of adrenaline working with our hitters," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Our hitters did an exceptional job tonight in taking over the game at home plate."

The crowd at the Tigue was electric throughout the game, even getting into it with some of the Mississippi State fans. After the Bulldogs scored three runs in the third inning to tie the game, MSU fans started their SEC chants. UL fans responded with boos.

But then when the Cajuns answered with three runs of their own, UL fans started mocking MSU fans by chanting SBC – for Sun Belt Conference.

Click here for digital photo gallery and video of post-game interviews.

UL scored runs in the first six innings of the game, including a six-run fourth inning.

Jace Conrad had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, including a two-run homer in the first inning. Dylan Butler and Blake Trahan also had three hits in the game.

The Cajuns stayed alive in an 11-1 win over Jackson State earlier in the day that endured a three-hour rain delay. "I think (the delay) helped us, in one way because it was so hot, we had a chance to go in and get re-hydrated," Robichaux said.

Conrad was 3-for-5 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the second inning to give UL a 6-1 lead. Ryan Leonards was 2-for-2 with four runs scored.

"We were first of all trying to win game one and try to get some momentum into game two," Conrad said.